title: The effects of backpack load and carrying method on the balance of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Concerns have been raised about the effect of backpack carrying on adolescent balance. For adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) subjects, the effect of backpack carrying method on their balance has not been determined. Our aim is to examine the effects of backpack load and carrying method on AIS subjects' balance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paired sample matched for age and sex.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve healthy adolescents matched for age and sex with 14 adolescents with mild AIS participated in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A test battery including clinical examination, radiological assessment, and stabilometric measurements of the postural sways in the upright standing posture were conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Center of pressure excursions of our subjects were recorded with a stabilometric platform during the upright standing posture without a backpack and while carrying a backpack symmetrically and asymmetrically on each shoulder. For each carrying method, the backpack is loaded at 10% and 15% of body weight (BW).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results indicated that postural sways increased with increasing backpack load. These postural sways were observed when normal adolescents carried a backpack loaded with 15% BW load, whereas, for age- and sex-matched AIS subjects, these postural responses were observed for the 10% BW load. The symmetrical backpack carrying induced better balance compared with the asymmetrical one. Asymmetrical carrying on the convex side of the scoliotic curve affects AIS subjects' balance more than carrying it on the concave side.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Load carriage of 10% BW seems to alter AIS subjects' balance. Asymmetrical carrying should be avoided especially on the convex side of the scoliotic curve because it causes balance impairments that may increase spinal pain.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Recherche sur les Pathologies de l'Appareil Locomoteur 04 UR 07/08, CHU Habib Bourguiba, Université du Sud, 3029 Sfax, Tunisia. Electronic address: sonia.sahli.isseps@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahli
authors.forename: Haithem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rebai
authors.forename: Sameh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghroubi
authors.forename: Abdelmonem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yahia
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guermazi
authors.forename: Mohamed Habib
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Elleuch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis; Backpack carrying method; Backpack load; Balance